Kentucky Critical Infrastructure Protection Institute Program (KCI)

The Kentucky Critical Infrastructure Protection Institute Program (KCI) focuses on the research, development and transfer to practical utilization of technologies designed to protect the nation’s community-based critical infrastructures. KCI also addresses the development of technologies which support capacities to detect, avoid, deter, protect against, respond to and recover from infrastructure disruptions.  KCI is funded by the U. S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and is managed by The National Institute For Hometown Security (NIHS).  Research projects are accomplished through the Kentucky Homeland Security University Consortium which consists of all public universities in Kentucky and private universities and colleges affiliated with the Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities.
NIHS works in cooperation with (DHS) to support the KCI which generates solutions that have applications that are national in scope. KCI is a virtual research and development enterprise that involves academia, the private sector and DHS. KCI seeks to develop homeland security technologies that can be quickly commercialized.

KCI has initiated 22 research and development projects since the program’s inception. You may review a listing of these is projects by clicking KCI Grant History.
NIHS is currently soliciting project proposals for the August 2007 RFP from principal investigators at Kentucky Homeland Security University Consortium institutions. The complete Request For Proposals is available by clicking KCI Proposal Criteria. Research areas for the RFP, which have been determined in consultation with DHS, are available by clicking KCI Program Requirements.
NIHS will host a Project Solicitation Conference on August 14, 2007, at The Center for Rural Development (2292 US 27 South) in Somerset, KY. The conference will begin at 10 a.m. EDT and conclude at 3:30 p.m. EDT. Principal and associate investigators and Kentucky Homeland Security University Consortium member representatives who may be interested in submitting a project proposal are strongly encouraged to attend the conference. The agenda for the conference is:

  • 10:00 AM –Opening/Welcome-  Dr. Sam Varnado, NIHS CEO
  • 10:20 AM –Program History/Background- Ewell Balltrip, NIHS President
  • 10:40 AM –Review of 2007 Technical Topics- Dr. Varnado and Mike Matthews, DHS
  • 11:20 AM –Break
  • 11:30 AM –Research and Development Project Contract Terms and Obligations- Hugh Haydon, G&H International Services
  • 12:30 PM –Lunch
    Speaker: Denise Swink, Council on Competitiveness
  • 1:30 PM –Discussion of White Paper Template and Submission Process-
    Stephanie Stumbo, G&H International Services
  • 2:00 PM –Discussion/Explanation of Selection Criteria- Dr.Varnado
    • Technical Merit- Mr. Matthews
    • Technical Feasibility- Dr. Varnado
    • Relevance and Integration-Dr.Varnado and Mr. Matthews
    • Commercialization/Conversion to Use- Don McAllister, Chris Gesswein, CTC;  Shannon Rickett, NIHS Director of Commercialization
    • Project Management and Execution-Mr. Balltrip
  • 3:30 PM –Adjourn

You may pre-register for the conference by clicking here. There is no registration fee.